THE ROLE OF PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE

There is no theologically sound foundation for the principles of  Biblical interpretation that would be complete and sufficient, if prophecy were taken out of the picture. Prophecy makes up a critical part of the Bible. If we neglect it, as some people have mistakenly done, or to speak utter contempt against the subject of prophecy, it is discrediting divine revelation. If prophecies were not in the Bible, what would be left would lack meaning. Prophecy gives the necessary foundation to the Word of God. The beauty and hope in Bible is found in the fulfillment of prophetic word. Fulfilled

prophecy is evidence for the reliability and authenticity of the Bible. No one can conspire to fulfill a prophetic word, millenniums after.In fact, the first ray of hope that ever came into the word after the fall of man was the promise of a Redeemer (Gen. 3:15); it was a

prophetic word. This verse served as the first ever prediction in the world. It is a turning point prophetic word for the entire Word of God and for the entire human race.

Enoch is the seventh generation from Adam. He prophesied about the Lord’s coming and how it would give judgment to the ungodly (Jude 14, 15). The Passover in Exodus 12 was also a prophetic act—a Christological type—which Paul later on pointed out, “For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). He is declaring how Christ’s death was a fulfillment of this prophetic act.

 

Moses also received a great prophetic word from God about the Messiah:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet [a] like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet[c] like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet,[d] who shall speak to them everything that I command. (Deuteronomy 18: 15-18)

 

Peter commented on this after Pentecost.Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ (Acts 3:22-23)

 

Chapters 28, 29, and 30 are also critical prophetic words in the book of Deuteronomy. Many of the Psalms were also prophetic in nature. In Psalm 16, 22, and 40, the Messiahs’ sufferings are already illustrated. In Psalms 2, 45, 72, and 110, His glory is already portrayed.

 

Put these accounts together with the actual books of prophecy in the Old Testament, and a pattern of prophecy and fulfillment can be seen across Scripture. In 500 BC, Daniel proclaimed that the Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after issuing a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Dan. 9:25-26). Daniel also protected how Jesus would be killed and how this event would take place before the second destruction of Jerusalem. History showed these prophecies fulfilled to the letter in the life and death of Jesus. The decree for the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia’s King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest named Ezra in 458 BC. Jesus’ ministry began in Galilee 483 years later. Four decades after the death of Jesus, Roman legions under Titus and Emperor Vespasian brought about the destruction of Jerusalem.  What is the probability of this taking place? You can do the math.

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Prophetic Office or Spiritual Gift

There is a heavy line between having the spiritual gift of prophecy and being called to the office of the prophet. You cannot merely grow into the office of a prophet the way you can grow into a prophetic ministry or receive a portion of the prophetic anointing (mantle). The office of the prophet is a calling. It is a life mission.

 

In short, it is not through the development of a spiritual gift that one becomes called to this office. According to the Apostle Paul, the office of the prophet is a special governmental gift given by Christ (Eph. 4:11-12). It’s a special calling that not all believers receive. The Office of the Prophet means that a believer is under a particular spiritual gift or office that has been recognized by the church and its elders about how a person is authorized to engage in open ministry centered around the prophetic gift.

 

In order to possess this office, a person is required to have a sovereign calling, extensive training, and multiple encounters with the presence of God. Moreover, their credibility is founded on their long track record of accurate prophecies. These people are not infallible, instead their words are to be taken more seriously than those of other prophets. Prophets in the office are able to move in the spirit, the gift, the ministry, and the mantle, and so

much more. They are gifted by God to give personal prophetic words. They see deeply the motives of people’s hearts—the secret things. However, their job is not to humiliate or to judge, but to show and encourage people to do what God wants them to do. A person who is not called to the office of the prophet, but moves in this manner, can be dangerous. Imagine, a scalpel in the hand of a murderer can cut or kill. However, the same scalpel in the hand of a surgeon can heal. The prophetic has great potential for building and destroying, depending on the skill, training, equipment, and motivation of the one prophesying.

 

The office of the prophet is a trans-local ministry, it’s not just confined to the local church. The prophet in the office is usually called to travel all over the world with the same church movement or with another church movement. The Body of Christ is united and the office of the prophet serve the Body of Christ—not just the local church. The office of the prophet expands his influence and activity through relationships, by developing other prophetic ministries, as well as by finding opportunities to share the Word of God on a larger scale (i.e. church planting and world missions).

 

Is there anything in your heart that you need to confess to preserve the integrity of the prophetic ministry and office?

 

I want to personally invite you to our LIVE CONFERENCE CALL and get exclusive access to our prophetic conversations.

1) Call 515-604-9266

2) Go to startmeeting.com, and use the login: BishopJordan

 

Do you see yourself being called to a trans-local ministry?

There is a heavy line between having the spiritual gift of prophecy and being called to the office of the prophet. You cannot merely grow into the office of a prophet the way you can grow into a prophetic ministry or receive a portion of the prophetic anointing (mantle). The office of the prophet is a calling. It is a life mission.

 

In short, it is not through the development of a spiritual gift that one becomes called to this office. According to the Apostle Paul, the office of the prophet is a special governmental gift given by Christ (Eph. 4:11-12). It’s a special calling that not all believers receive. The Office of the Prophet means that a believer is under a particular spiritual gift or office that has been recognized by the church and its elders about how a person is authorized to engage in open ministry centered around the prophetic gift.

 

In order to possess this office, a person is required to have a sovereign calling, extensive training, and multiple encounters with the presence of God. Moreover, their credibility is founded on their long track record of accurate prophecies. These people are not infallible, instead their words are to be taken more seriously than those of other prophets. Prophets in the office are able to move in the spirit, the gift, the ministry, and the mantle, and so

much more. They are gifted by God to give personal prophetic words. They see deeply the motives of people’s hearts—the secret things. However, their job is not to humiliate or to judge, but to show and encourage people to do what God wants them to do. A person who is not called to the office of the prophet, but moves in this manner, can be dangerous. Imagine, a scalpel in the hand of a murderer can cut or kill. However, the same scalpel in the hand of a surgeon can heal. The prophetic has great potential for building and destroying, depending on the skill, training, equipment, and motivation of the one prophesying.

 

The office of the prophet is a trans-local ministry, it’s not just confined to the local church. The prophet in the office is usually called to travel all over the world with the same church movement or with another church movement. The Body of Christ is united and the office of the prophet serve the Body of Christ—not just the local church. The office of the prophet expands his influence and activity through relationships, by developing other prophetic ministries, as well as by finding opportunities to share the Word of God on a larger scale (i.e. church planting and world missions).

 

Is there anything in your heart that you need to confess to preserve the integrity of the prophetic ministry and office?

 

I want to personally invite you to our LIVE CONFERENCE CALL and get exclusive access to our prophetic conversations.

1) Call 515-604-9266

2) Go to startmeeting.com, and use the login: BishopJordan

 

Do you see yourself being called to a trans-local ministry?

Download Zoe Ministries’ 36th Year Anniversary Magazine Digital Edition

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The Office of the New Testament Prophet

In the Old Testament, the Prophet Amos tells us, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets,” (3:7). In the New Testament, we see the importance of the work of the Office of the Prophet:

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are

citizens with the saints and also members of the household of

God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone,” (Eph. 2:19-20).

 

In the physical world, it is scientific that the foundation underneath a building is important for the integrity of the structure on top. Apostles and prophets are tasked to lay down the foundations of ministries—evangelists, pastors, and teachers are the structure-building ministries. There is a significant weight in the spiritual realm when the prophet begins to say, “Thus saith the Lord.” The prophet’s work is to bless, to establish, to edify, to confirm, to direct, to correct, to comfort, to root out, to destroy, to plant, and to build. Thus, the believer who is not truly anointed to be in this spiritual office should never attempt to copy this anointing or operate as if he is in this office.

 

In the Office of the Prophet, there are two kinds of prophecy: confirmational and creative prophecy. One is “confirmational prophecy,” when the prophet speaks a word over you that confirms what God already has been telling you prior to this word. The prophet’s word becomes a double witness of God’s leading in your life. It is intended to encourage you and to build your faith to pursue His plans for your life.

 

On the other hand, “creative prophecy” is when the Spirit wants you to do something or to launch something in your life, which you would have otherwise not considered without this word. The “creative prophecy” is an Amos 3:7 type of prophecy, setting in motion God’s plan from scratch. On the other hand, “confirmational prophecy” is an Acts 21:10-11 type of prophecy, confirming what you already know.

 

 

 

Studying the Word of God is about equipping yourself to live out in practical ways the standard of the Bible. Archbishop Jordan’s book, THE SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE OF MONEY —  now available exclusively via the Book of the Month Club.

 

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The Cost of the Mantle

We need to recognize that the prophetic mantle is heavy and not just anyone can carry it. We need to build our spiritual muscles to be equipped to bear this mantle. We undergo times of preparation and testing so that we can afford the cost of receiving a prophetic mantle.

 

One of the things about receiving the prophetic mantle is that more is caught than taught. You must invest in spending time with the prophet to catch the prophetic mantle. Take note, prophets are humans with human flaws. How can you stick with someone who is not perfect without being offended or turned off? It’s only by the grace of God and your commitment to receiving the mantle.

 

Elijah was probably a tough mentor. He did not spend too much time with people and he was rough on the edges. Elijah was in tune with God and he called others to focus on God. He was so focused on this that he may have neglected other things and other people’s needs, pains, and struggles. Reading encounters between Elijah and Elisha shows that he was hard on him. Yet, Elisha did not leave him (2 Kgs. 2:2; 2 Kgs. 2:4). He may have been offended several times, but he chose to overlook it. He knew where God wanted him to be.

 

When God prepares for you a future, don’t back away from it and stay in the past. Move towards it, even if it means leaving our comfort zone. Take up the prophetic mantle and carry it with accountability and love. Use it to give glory to God and let your prophetic voice be heard.Today, the prophetic mantle still needs to be passed on. However, they can only receive this anointing if they are willing. They must be humble and teachable. Moreover, the next generation of prophets can only receive the mantle if the elder prophets are also willing to impart their gift and anointing.

 

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Have you ever needed to overlook offenses in order to grow in the prophetic ministry? What have you learned from this experience?

 

Your Calling Can Be Tested

Joseph received the royal robes over his shoulders at such a young age. However, despite his prophetic dreams, his life was not characterized by favor. We know the end of the story and we consider him a favored man. However, he probably did not see his life to be this way when he was being sold as a slave or when he was being thrown in jail. Callings are challenged. Yes, you have a calling, but your faith in God’s promises would be shaken, until you know that it was only God’s grace that would make this

calling come to pass.

 

 

God sees the big picture from His perspective in heaven. You cannot see what He is seeing. God is gradually revealing to you what He is up to—on a need-to-know-basis. If you don’t know the reason why you’re in your situation, then you probably don’t need to know it. Just trust that God is in control over your circumstance. Receiving the prophetic mantle from God, if you have a desire for it, will be above and beyond what you can ever

hope for or imagine.

 

Your weekly dose of prophetic wisdom and anointing awaits you. Join our LIVE Conference Call!

 

1) Call 515-604-9266

2) Go to startmeeting.com, and use the login: BishopJordan

 

Who must you submit to in terms of spiritual authority in your church or ministry?

Wait for the Right Time – God’s Timing

You may be feeling frustrated that you are getting overlooked or that other people are receiving their mantles before you. Do not compare yourself with others. You must not use other people’s lives as the standard for when God will appoint you because you have your own story.

Elisha was appointed by God to be his prophet. However, God also used Elijah to recognize, prepare, and establish this appointment. At the same time, God used Jacob, Potiphar, the prison warden, and the Pharaoh to choose Joseph for a position in Egypt that was already his through God’s divine appointment.

We must not self-appoint ourselves to a mantle or ministry. God can use those who are overseeing you to recognize and establish you to the calling you are meant for at the right time (Acts 6:6, Acts 13:1-3). You must be secure in God’s timing. In the meantime, prepare and be in faith.

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Who is God using to appoint you and to deliver the prophetic mantle upon your life?

A Spiritual Gift

In the second level of prophecy, we’ll look at its characteristics as a “motivational gift.” When we say it’s a motivational spiritual gift, we mean it represents what God does in the believer to shape his view on life and to inspire his words and actions. Paul describes

“basic motivations” in Romans 12:3-8, as inherent abilities within a believer; the Father’s unique workmanship within him or her. Moreover, through these motivational gifts, God empowers these believers to become discerning of His purposes. Like soldiers with direct marching orders from their commanders, believers become aware of what God specifically commands them to do.These believers with these motivational gifts can also minister to others through the ministry and manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit in ways beyond human capability and will, with greatest influence and least weariness. Different people will receive different gifts. Different people’s behaviors can vary according to how they were raised, age, gender, or culture, however, it is common to see individuals with the same motivational gift to demonstrate common qualities.

 

I want to personally invite you to our LIVE CONFERENCE CALL and get exclusive access to our prophetic conversations.

1) Call 515-604-9266

2) Go to startmeeting.com, and use the login: BishopJordan

Prophetic Culture

By “prophetic culture,” we refer to having a sense of anticipation among the attendees that God is going to manifest His presence and speak directly to His people, either through the preached Word of God or through the worship experience. The “spirit of prophecy” must be a consistent presence in our worship services and in our daily church life. It’s what we must desire for as a people of God. Here are some of the ways to develop this culture in the local church, which I will challenge you, dear readers, to apply

within the next six months:

 

 

  1.  Minister to the Lord, instead of entertaining men. Let go of any performance-orientation you have in your local worship services, and make it worship-centered. When the focus is on performance, the goal is to entertain attendees, rather than to minister to God. Acts 13:12 teaches us that the Antioch Church ministered to the Lord; this attitude will release a powerful prophetic culture in the congregation.

 

 

  1.  Hold regular times for corporate prayer and fasting. A weekly prayer meeting is a significant part of a prophetic culture. Usually, during these meetings the Lord can speak to the church in a prophetic sense. Moreover, setting aside two to three times a year for corporate fasting makes the local church more sensitive to God’s leading.

 

 

  1.  The gift of prophecy should function among the members. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially to prophesy. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20, he instructs the church neither to quench the Spirit nor to despise prophesying. Prophecy is the greatest gift when it comes to edifying the church, according to Paul. Prophecy can come forth through the anointed and authoritative preached Word, or it can be an anointed exhortation expressing the heart of God from any believer present in the congregation. Leaders must seek to receive the Gift of Prophecy.

 

 

  1.  Desire the prophetic. The desire to hear from God and the desire to be used by the Holy Spirit to declare God’s Word is significant. We are made to communicate with God. Boldly ask for this gift, both on a personal and a corporate level.

 

Studying the Word of God is about equipping yourself to live out in practical ways the standard of the Bible. Archbishop Jordan’s book, THE SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE OF MONEY —  now available exclusively via the Book of the Month Club.

 

Go to and join the club now!

 

Pray for a prophetic culture to develop in your worship services.

Moses and the Vision for a Nation of Prophets

In Numbers 11:25, the “spirit of prophecy” came upon Moses and 70 elders. As soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. However, they did not continue doing it. As a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit, Moses and the leaders had the ability to prophesy—to discover hidden things, to settle difficult things, and operate in the wisdom of God. Joshua even tried to stop the people from prophesying (Num. 11:28)—maybe he thought it must be reserved for their prophet leader. However, Moses expressed God’s desire to have a nation of prophets (Num. 11:29). Moses was so secure in his leadership and where he stood before God that he said there was nothing threatening about the people of God prophesying.

 

Do you know that even enemies can prophesy when the Spirit of God comes upon them? The Holy Spirit is a prophetic Spirit that when he manifests, those who are in His presence can catch the prophetic spirit at that time. When Saul sent messengers to take David, they saw a group of prophets prophesying. Samuel was standing as leader over them. The Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied (1 Sam. 19:20).

 

In Numbers 11:25, it was noted that they only prophesied once. Thus, there was no sure way to verify if they received the gift of prophecy or were called into the office of a prophet. However, we can assume that they received the “spirit of prophecy” for that moment. When the Holy Spirit is present, people who don’t normally prophesy may be able to do so under his influence. Amos wrote, “A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” Joel, another prophet, expressed the heart of God to have a nation of people who would enter into divine communication with Him (Joel 2:28-29). Peter confirmed Joel’s vision being fulfilled in Acts 2 when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came during Pentecost.

 

Since Pentecost, Peter declared the Holy Spirit was no longer to be confined to only a few individuals, as he was in the Old Testament. He would become available to every believer in Christ, regardless of age, status, or gender. The prophetic would no longer be transferred to a few but would become available to all. Now all men can communicate with God and speak forth the mind and counsel of God under divine inspiration. However, this does not mean that someone is a prophet just because he or she prophesies, or even that they are exercising the gift of prophecy. It means that the “spirit of prophecy” can manifest and influence prophetic behavior in individuals in the present age. It only takes a small amount of grace upon a person’s life to flow in this level of

prophecy—the manifestation of “spirit of prophecy” in the room

can cause a prophetic stir. A person who prophesies in the “spirit

of prophecy” may never do it again.

 

 

Your weekly dose of prophetic wisdom and anointing awaits you. Join our LIVE Conference Call!

 

1) Call 515-604-9266

2) Go to startmeeting.com, and use the login: BishopJordan

 

Pray for the “spirit of prophecy” to be present in your quiet time for you to understand the Word with greater clarity.

 

Distinguishing the “Spirit of Prophecy” Level

The “spirit of prophecy” is poured out upon believers in the church to testify about Jesus Christ, which is true even today. For this reason, the Bible says that we may all prophesy (1Cor.14:31), and that the power of the prophetic still exists today; It did not die when the last apostle died as some would claim.

 

At this level of prophecy, every believer who cares to be a spiritual vessel can practice prophesying by faith through the “spirit of prophecy.” This level may be the shallowest end of the pool, but it is the first step in operating in the prophetic. One cannot go to the deepest end, without stepping into this level first. The “spirit of prophecy” is simply the Holy Spirit manifesting himself in every believer who is willing and who cares to testify about Jesus Christ (Jn. 15:26). When believers yield to the “spirit of prophecy,” which can manifest at times when you least expect, you will begin to freely speak the word of God by faith. The prophetic word will glorify Jesus and edify the hearers. You may feel a quickening in your heart or in your gut when this is occurring. In other times, it’s just a sense of clarity, peace, or awareness that the “spirit of prophecy” is upon you as you are already speaking about the Word of God. It can be when you are ministering one-on-one with a friend, when you are leading a small group, or when you are preaching in the pulpit.

 

Sometimes, when we gather in groups, either in church, fellowship, home cells, prayer groups, or in our house fellowship, we experience the “spirit of prophecy” move strongly. When the Holy Spirit strongly moves, anybody in the meeting can prophesy and all that is said truly glorifies Jesus and edifies the gathering. The “spirit of prophecy” is contagious. Where the Spirit of the Lord is allowed, there He freely moves. One can silence or quench the Holy Spirit’s voice when you neglect it or reject it. However, when you yield to it, you will experience the Holy Spirit’s power.

 

In the Old Testament, you will see a scriptural pattern of how prophets moved in companies. The intensity of anointing is experienced to increase unity. In the New Testament, we also notice how several prophets in the church of Antioch were in a

group (Acts 13). We see generations of Schools of Prophets in the Bible where the “spirit of prophecy” manifests powerfully.

 

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How has being in a company or group of prophets opened you up to receiving an impartation from the “Spirit of prophecy?”

The Book of Revelation and the “Spirit of Prophecy”

In Revelation 19:5, the Apostle John tells us that he heard a voice from the throne of God speaking to him. The same speaker, John heard in verses 9 and 10. From the throne of God, the Speaker spoke true words of God. With full authority, the Speaker says, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Based from this passage, we can take home four important points about the “spirit of prophecy.” Jesus proclaimed an authoritative testimony and we must take notice. The voice in John’s vision speaks about Christ’s testimony—which refers to the testimonies given by Jesus or the testimony of believers about him.

 

Mostly, we can observe how the “spirit of prophecy” causes believers to speak a word of testimony about Jesus.Jesus preached (Lk. 4:43) about the kingdom of God. During his ministry on earth, he dealt with many aspects of this subject. He spoke of both redemption and of judgment. Those who believed in Jesus would be redeemed, while those who did not believe would face the harsh judgment of spiritual death. In addition to what Christ said, the entire life, death, and resurrection of Jesus proclaimed the truth of God.The message of Jesus has an unmatched influence for humanity. Everyone everywhere must face the claims of the Son of God—it’s inevitable. Each of us has a choice to make, whether we accept or reject this message. The “spirit of prophecy” inspires us to make this significant choice, as we are called and pre-destined to be children of God.

 

Believers in Christ are witnesses of him. The “spirit of prophecy” causes us to proclaim the truth to people everywhere. It is this spirit that causes us to do this in a more powerful way, which is more intense and more effective than human capability. Every believer in Christ is called to witness. Our words and our lives tell the story of how Christ redeemed our lives. Our lives give evidence to the transforming work of the Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life. Sometimes, the witness of believers, triggers opposition and persecution. Many people, today, face persecution and death because of “the testimony of Jesus.” However, they keep proclaiming this by the power of the Holy Spirit. They can be bold and fearless in prophesying about the return of Christ because of this grace.

 

John proclaimed that the testimony of Jesus “is the spirit of prophecy.” The main function of the Holy Spirit is to bear witness to Jesus. The Spirit does this by empowering believers to speak.

 

The Spirit also empowered Jesus to testify, and he empowers all who believe in Christ.

When Jesus began his ministry on earth, according to Luke 4:14 “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” The Spirit of God was upon his human body and mind, throughout his ministry. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he preached the Kingdom of God, performed his mighty works, and completed his redemptive work. As Jesus proclaimed the truth of God, the Spirit of prophecy was upon him. Being fully human, he needed the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to perform his ministry, like we need the Holy Spirit to perform ours.

 

The Spirit also empowered Jesus to testify, and he empowers all who believe in Christ.

When Jesus began his ministry on earth, according to Luke 4:14 “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” The Spirit of God was upon his human body and mind, throughout his ministry. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he preached the Kingdom of God, performed his mighty works, and completed his redemptive work. As Jesus proclaimed the truth of God, the Spirit of prophecy was upon him. Being fully human, he needed the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to perform his ministry, like we need the Holy Spirit to perform ours.

 

Your weekly dose of prophetic wisdom and anointing awaits you. Join our LIVE Conference Call!

 

1) Call 515-604-9266

2) Go to startmeeting.com, and use the login: BishopJordan

 

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you a powerful and spirit-led witness in sharing your testimony about Jesus this week.